Improvement in steam-boiler furnaces



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Letters Patent No. 98,805, dated January 11, 1870.

IMPROVEMENT IN STEAM-BOILER FURNACES.

. The Schedule referred to in theaeLetters Patent and making part of the same.

I, J.` Q. O. SEARLE, of Topeka, county of Shawnee, 4State of Kansas, have invented an Improvement in Furnaces or Fire-Placesof which the following is a specification. l

Nature and Object of the Invention.

The main-feature of my invention consists of the combination, with the fire-place of a locomotive or other boiler, of a fuel-supply reservoir surrounded by a water-space, and arranged within the tire-place, and above the grate, so as to afford a continuous supply of fuel to the iire.

Another feature of 4my invention consists of a grate, of a peculiar form, whereby an extended resurface is obtained, a thorough combustion of the fuel effected, the steam-generating capacity increased, aud a continuous circulation of the water insured.

My invention also consists of further improvements, described hereafter.

Description of the Accompanying Drawings.

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of lpart cfa locomotive-boiler, -with my invention applied to the same;

Figure 2, a transverse section on the line 1 2, tig. 1; and

Figure 3 represents a modification of my invention.

General Description..

A is the outer shell of the tire-box end of a `locomotive-boiler,- being the tire-box, and a a the usual flue-tubes, extending through the cylindrical portion of the boiler, from the plate b of the tire-box to the smoke-chamber.

The inner casing or lining c is arranged' within the fire-box, so as to form the usual water-space e, round the tire-chamber; and above this lining, and communicating with the tire-chamber, 'is a reservoir, which, in the present instance, is of a conical form, and which consists of plates f f f f, secured to andand forming continuations of the plates of inner lining c, the reservoir heilig so arranged that there shall be a waterspace on all sides o'f it.

A partition,`t, may extend transversely across the reservoir, for a purpose described hereafter.

At the front end of the boiler is a feed-opening, g, communicating with the reselvoir c, and below this opening is the ash-pit opening g.

The grate consists, in the present instance, of a series ot4 zigzag tubes, h, parallel with each other, and with the tire-box, and so bent as to form two or more V-shaped pockets, t t, for the fuel, the tubes extending through the lining c', and being slightly eleevated at their rear ends, so that the water can tio freely through them.

The reservoir c is iiilled with fuel, which, passing through the lower end of the said reservoir, is divided by the partition t, and distributed into the Vfshaped pockets t' i of the grate, the air passing upward between the bars, and also across the pockets, and through the mass of fuel therein, to the 1uetubes a, thereby effecting a thorough combustion of the fuel in the pockets, without that in 'the reservoir becoming ignited.

Owing to the form to` which the tubular grate-barsv are bent, an extensive grate-surface is obtained, with-l in a 4comparatively narrow limit, so that a much larger amount of fuel may be iu active combustion ,at one time, than if the bars extended straight 'across the fire -box in the usual manner, while the passage of the draught across the masses of fuel in the pockets directs the heated products of combustion away from the reservoir, instead of toward it, as would be the case if the air passed merely upward through the fuel as usual.

Owing to the presence of a body of water in the spa-ccs surrounding the reservoir, the latter is effectually prevented from becoming so heated as to coke the contents, while the passage of water through the grate-bars, prevents the latter from being burnt away or becoming warped, at the same time alibi-ding a means of maintaining the water in constant circulation, and increasing the steam-generating capacity of the boiler. i

The reservoir may'consist of two casings, with an intervening air-space, as shown in iig. 3, instead of being exposed directly to the action of the steam and water in the boiler; or the reservoir` may only beV partly surrounded with an air-chamber, thereby maintaining the reservoir and its contents in a comparatively cool state, and, at the same time, affording an. opportunity of discharging small jets of air ou to `the` ignited fuel, as shown by the arrows in iig. 3.

It will be evident that the reservoir may extend through and above the top of the outer casing of the tire-box, to any desired height.

A feeding-tube has-heretofore been arranged within a boiler, occupying a position above the tire-place, but this arrangement is-objectionable, as the presence of the reservoir either diminishes the capacity of the boiler, or requires au enlargement of the latter. to cornpensate for the room occupied by the feeding-tube.

It is also necessary to elevate the grate, that -the latter may be adjacent to the mouth of the reservoir, and the proximity 'of the fire to the lower end of the boiler is detrimental to the strength and durability of the latter.

By my improvement, a means is afforded of forming these narrow water-spaces, which are so desirable, in

` order to quickly heat the water, and rapidly generate steam.

1 do Vnot claim, broadly, a fuel-reservoir, extending y downward into a fire-place, as this has heretofore been used; but

I claim- 1. The combination of a. hopper, extending into the {ire-place of a boiler, and a, water-space surrounding the hopper, as specified.

2. The combination of a fuel-supply reservoir with a grate, constructed and arranged, substantially in the manner described.

3. A series of water-tubes, bent and rarranged to form a pocket, or series of pockets, for retaining the fuel, snbstzmtially as set forth.

4. The partition t, arranged within the coal-supply reservoir, for the purpose specified.

5. The perforated air-chamber, intervening between the easing of the reservoir and the water or steam-y spnee, as set forth.

6. The combina-tion of the rake D, plate or platform G, and detachable lever F, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

J. Q. C. SEARLE.

Witnesses CHARLES E. FOSTER, EDM. F. BROWN. i 

